Carrier and can opener combination

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to a package formed by a carrier to which is secured a plurality of containers having ends provided with tear-out portions, the carrier having a plurality of hollow arms, and each arm having a channel for receiving the rivet of each tear-out portion whereby the removal of each can from the carrier automatically removes the associated tear-out portion.

United States Patent Mascia 1 May 23, 1972 [s41 CARRIER AND CAN OPENER [56] References Cited COMBINATION UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor: Carmen T. Mascla,Westchester, 111. 2 440 902 5/1943' 3,365,068 l 1968 Crosb [73] Assrgnee: Continental Can Company, Inc., New 3379334 411968 g Ymk, 3,463,535 8/1969 Bean ..294/87.28 [22] Filed: May 28, 1970 Primary Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. PP N04 41,303 Attorney-Diner, Brown, Ramik & Holt 52 U.S. Cl. ..206/65 c, 21 1/74, 220/234, ,5 ABSTRACT 220/54, 224/45 AA, 294/872 This disclosure relates to a package formed by a carrier to [51] lnt.Cl. ..B65d 17/00, 365d 85/62 which is ecured a plurality of containers having ends pro- [58] Field of Search ..206/65 c, 65 E, 65 C1165 R; vided with leaf-Out Portions. the carrier having a plurality of 220/23 4 211/74; 294/872, 8728; 224/45 AA, hollow arms, and each arm having a channel for receiving the 45 45 BA rivet of each tear-out portion whereby the removal of each can from the carrier automatically removes the associated tear-outportion.

16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 2 3 m2 SHEET 1 [IF 2 INVENTOR CARMEN T. MQSUH CARRIER AND CAN OPENER COMBINATION A variety of carriers or cartons for forming packages in conjunction with containers, such as bottles or cans,'are relatively well known. One such carrier is the conventional ,basketstyle" carrier which includes a carrying handle along a longitudinal center line of the carrier and a plurality of container compartments which are normally arranged in pairs to form four-pack, six-pack, etc. packages. Carriers of this type are generally used to package glass or similar fragile containers,

and are not normally used for packaging metallic cans.

Wrap-around style carriers are generally constructed from paper stock or similar foldable material, and are simply wrapped about a plurality of containers to again form fourtures of the sheet material, the sheet material is then heated,

and the material thereby shrinks to adequately grip the containers to permit the same to be carried by the carrier in four pack, six-pack, etc. arrangements.

Each of the conventional carriers just described has proved relatively efficient for its only purpose, namely, to provide a package for a predetermined number of bottles, cans, or similar containers. Apart from perfonning this function and the ancillary function of maintaining the containers in longitudinal and transverse spaced relationship, conventional carriers are in no way otherwise associated in a functional manner with their associated containers.

. In keeping with the present invention, a primary object thereof is to provide a novel package which includes a carrier and a plurality of containers, the containers having ends provided with conventional tear-out portions or tear strips each of which includes a rivet but being devoid of conventional pull tabs, and the carrier including transversely aligned arms each of which includes a channel at its under side for receiving the rivets whereby the cans and carrier form a self contained package for storage and/or shipment,'and additionally providing the automatic removal of the tear strips upon the removal of any of the containers from the package.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel carrier of the type just described wherein the terminal end of each arm is provided with means for gripping the double seam of each container with the gripping means additionally functioning as a fulcrum for initiating the rupture of a score line associated with each tear strip incident to the removal thereof from an associated can end.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel carrier of the type heretofore described wherein channels of transversely aligned arms open in a direction toward each other, and each channel is provided with an enlarged entrant portion for facilitating the insertion of the rivets into the channels.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a novel package constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates a carrier which includes six arms arranged in transverse pairs with a container secured to each of the arms.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the carrier of FIG. I with the containers shown in phantom outline, and illustrates a channel formed in the under side of each of the carrier arms for receiving the necks of rivets carried by each tear-out portion.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which the rivets are retained inthe channels of the carrier arms.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 3, and illustrates the manner in which each channel includes a wide entrant portion for facilitating the insertion of each of the rivets into the channels.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 2, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which one of the tear-out portions is automatically removed upon the removal of the associated container from the carrier.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 6, and illustrates the manner in which one of the containers is secured to the carrier by its rivet and the associated carrying arm channel.

A novel package constructed in accordance with this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and includes a carrier 1 1 and a plurality of identical containers C.

The containers C are of a conventional construction and include a cylindrical body 12, bottom ends (not shown) secured to the bodies 12 by double seams l3, and top ends 14 secured to the bodies 12 by double seams 19. Each end 14 includes a conventional line of weakness 15 (FIG. 7) defining a tear-out portion or tear strip 16. Inboard of the line of weakness or score line 15 is a rivet 17 defined by a reduced neck 18 (FIG. 6) of a predetermined diameter and-an enlarged head 20.

Though each of the containers C is of a three-piece construction (the two ends and the body), each container C may be of only a two-piece construction in which case the body 12 and one of the ends would be integrally formed as by, for example, extruding and wall-ironing cup-shaped blanks in a known manner. The components of each of the cans C are illustrated for purposes of description as being constructed from metallic material, but different materials or combinations thereof may be employed. In keeping with this invention, it is important only that at least one of the ends is provided with a tear-out portion and an associated rivet or equivalent means. In addition, each tear-out portion is completely devoid of the usual pull tab or pull ring.

The carrier 11 is suitably molded from polymeric or copolymeric material and includes a longitudinal main frame 21 which is of a hollow construction, as is best illustrated in FIG. 3. The main frame 21 includes a'pair of downwardly diverging side walls 22, 23 terminating at respective rectangular terminal walls 24, 25. Opposite end walls 26, 27 likewise diverge away from each other in a downward direction and terminate at respective generally rectangular terminal end walls 28, 29. The walls 24, 25, 28 and 29 thereby impart a generally rectangular configuration to the lowermost periphery of the member 21 as viewed from below (FIG. 3).

r The walls 22 through 25 are provided with a plurality of notches 31 (FIGS. 3 and 6) for receiving the double seams 19.

A plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent carrying arms, each designated by the reference numeral 32, project laterally from and generally normal to the main carrying frame 21. Each arm 32 includes a top wall 33 (FIG. 4), a pair of side walls 34, 35 converging in a downward direction, and a bottom wall 36. The walls 33 through 36 define hollow chambers 38 in each of the arms 32. The lowermost wall 36 of each arm 32 includes channel means in the form of identical channels 40 having enlarged entrant portions 41 merging with reduced terminal end portions 42 (FIG. 3). The width of the portion 42 corresponds to that of the diameter of the neck 18 of each of the rivets while the width of the entrant portion 41 corresponds to the diameter of the enlarged heads 20. This construction of each channel 40 permits each can C to be positioned as shown in FIGS. through 7 by first positioning the head 20 of each rivet 17 in alignment with the entrant portions 41, inserting the head 20 therethrough until it projects into the hollow chamber 38, and thereafter sliding each container away from the main frame member 21 until each neck 18 is seated at the end of the reduced end portion 42 in the manner best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In order to prevent each of the cans C from being inadvertently removed from the channels 40, each carrying arm 32 includes a channel 43 defined in part by a depending peripheral skirt 44 and an inwardly directed lip 45 (FIG. 6). The peripheral skirt 44 is sufiiciently flexible to deflect outwardly to receive a portion of each of the double seams 19. Thus, each can C is supported by the double seam 19 thereof in the notches or slots 31, 43, as well as by the enlarged head 20 of each of the rivets 17, as is best illustrated by the left-handmost can of FIG. 6. As is also best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the channels 40 of transversely opposite pairs of arms 32 open in a direction toward each other and thus the cans C cannot inadvertently move toward one another and inadvertent contact therebetween is thus precluded.

When it is desired to remove any one of the tear-out portions 16 from an associated can end 14, it is merely necessary to pull the can downwardly and outwardly, in the manner clearly illustrated in FIG. 2. This movement applies an opening force to the starting end (unnumbered) of the tear-out portions 16 causing the rupture thereof and the progressive rupture of the score line in the manner shown best by the right-handmost can C in FIG. 6.

An an alternate method of opening the cans C, it is merely necessary to employ as a fulcrum any one of the ledges 45 and pivot the bottom of the cans away from the longitudinal center linein the manner indicated by the unnumbered headed arrow in FIG. 6. This causes each double seam 19 to be withdrawn from its associated notch 31 after which rupture of the score line 15 is initiated. Once the rupture of the score line 15 has been initiated the can body can be pulled downwardly to remove the remaining portion of the double seam 19 from the notch or groove 43 resulting in the complete removal of the tear strip 16 which, of course, remains secured to its associated carrying arm 32.

In keeping with a further embodiment of this invention it is possible to provide each of the carrying arms 32 with score lines or weakening lines 47 (FIG. 2) in the walls 33 through 35. The score lines 47 are preferably in alignment with the notches 31. This permits each of the carrying arms 32 to be fractured along the weakening line 47 to remove any one or more selected ones of the carrying arms and associated containers from the carrier 11 without disturbing the remaining containers. Once removed the end nearest the score line 47 is grasped and swung upwardly again employing the groove 43 as a fulcrum to initiate the rupture of the associated score line 15 followed by the subsequent total removal of the tear-out portion 16. The removed portion of the carrying arm 32 and the tear-out portion 16 still secured thereto by the enlarged head 20 and the associated channel portion 42 may be discarded in any desired manner.

Additionally, the carrier 11 may, of course, be provided with an integrally molded carrying handle 48 although as an alternate construction thereof the main frame 21 may be provided with finger-receiving openings 50 in the manner indicated in phantom outline in FIG. 3.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

I claim:

1. In a package of the type defined by a carrier and a plurality of containers having ends provided with tear-out portions, the improvement comprising means for directly securing the carrier to the tear-out portions in the absence of conventional pull tabs or similar conventional manual gripping means whereby an opening force can be applied to the tear-out portions through the securing means to remove the tear-out portions in the absence of conventional pull tabs or similar opening devices, said securing means being defined by pairs of transversely adjacent channel means of a predetermined width, each tear-out portion having an enlarged head and a reduced neck, each head being of a size greater than said predetermined width, each neck being of a size substantially equal to said predetermined width, and said necks being positioned in said channel means with said heads and ends on opposite sides thereof.

2. The package as defined in claim 1 wherein each pair of transversely adjacent channel means open in a direction toward each other.

3. The package as defined in claim 1 wherein each channel means has an entrance portion of a size greater than said predetermined width for facilitating the introduction of each neck into an associated channel means.

4. The package as defined in claim 1 wherein said carrier includes a plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means.

5. The package as defined in claim 1 wherein said carrier includes a plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent hollow container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means with an associated enlarged head being located interiorly of each hollow arm.

6. The package as defined in claim 2 wherein each channel means has an entrance portion of a size greater than said predetermined width for facilitating the introduction of each neck into an associated channel means.

7. The package as defined in claim 2 wherein said carrier includes a plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means.

8. The package as defined in claim 2 wherein said carrier includes a plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent hollow container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means with an associated enlarged head being located interiorly of each hollow arm.

9. The package as defined in claim 6 wherein said carrier includes a plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent hollow container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means with an associated enlarged head being located interiorly of each hollow arm. 1

10. A carrier for a plurality of containers having ends provided with tear-out portions each having an upstanding neck and an enlarged head comprising a plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent channel means of a predetermined width substantially equal to the size of said necks, said transversely adjacent pairs of channel means open in a direction toward each other, and means for facilitating the introduction of each neck into an associated channel means.

11. The carrier as defined in claim 10 wherein said facilitating means is an entrance portion of each channel means which is of a size greater than the size of said necks.

12. The carrier as defined in claim 10 including pairs of transversely adjacent container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means.

13. The carrier as defined in claim 11 including pairs of transversely adjacent container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means.

14. The carrier as defined in claim 13 wherein said arms are hollow.

15. A carrier for a plurality of containers having ends provided with tear-out portions each having an upstanding neck and an enlarged head comprising a plurality of interconnected plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent container carrying arms, means securing each carrying arm to an associated tearout portion whereby an opening for supply to the tear-out portions through the securing means will remove the tear-out portions from the associated container ends, and said securing means being defined by channel means in each arm of a predetermined width substantially equal to the size of said necks.

16. The carrier as defined in claim wherein said carrying arms are hollow.

t F k 

1. In a package of the type defined by a carrier and a plurality of containers having ends provided with tear-out portions, the improvement comprising means for directly securing the carrier to the tear-out portions in the absence of conventional pull tabs or similar conventional manual gripping means whereby an opening force can be applied to the tear-out portions through the securing means to remove the tear-out portions in the absence of conventional pull tabs or similar opening devices, said securing means being defined by pairs of transversely adjacent channel means of a predetermined width, each tear-out portion having an enlarged head and a reduced neck, each head being of a size greater than said predetermined width, each neck being of a size substantially equal to said predetermined width, and said necks being positioned in said channel means with said heads and ends on opposite sides thereof.
 2. The package as defined in claim 1 wherein each pair of transversely adjacent channel means open in a direction toward each other.
 3. The package as defined in claim 1 wherein each channel means has an entrance portion of a size greater than said predetermined width for facilitating the introduction of each neck into an associated channel means.
 4. The package as defined in claim 1 wherein said carrier includes a plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means.
 5. The package as defined in claim 1 wherein said carrier includes a plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent hollow container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means with an associated enlarged head being located interiorly of each hollow arm.
 6. The package as defined in claim 2 wherein each channel means has an entrance portion of a size greater than said predetermined width for facilitating the introduction of each neck into an associated channel means.
 7. The package as defined in claim 2 wherein said carrier includes a plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means.
 8. The package as defined in claim 2 wherein said carrier includes a plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent hollow container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means with an associated enlarged head being located interiorly of each hollow arm.
 9. The package as defined in claim 6 wherein said carrier includes a plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent hollow container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means with an associated enlarged head being located interiorly of each hollow arm.
 10. A carrier for a plurality of containers having ends provided with tear-out portions each having an upstanding neck and an enlarged head comprising a plUrality of pairs of transversely adjacent channel means of a predetermined width substantially equal to the size of said necks, said transversely adjacent pairs of channel means open in a direction toward each other, and means for facilitating the introduction of each neck into an associated channel means.
 11. The carrier as defined in claim 10 wherein said facilitating means is an entrance portion of each channel means which is of a size greater than the size of said necks.
 12. The carrier as defined in claim 10 including pairs of transversely adjacent container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means.
 13. The carrier as defined in claim 11 including pairs of transversely adjacent container carrying arms, and each of said arms includes one of said channel means.
 14. The carrier as defined in claim 13 wherein said arms are hollow.
 15. A carrier for a plurality of containers having ends provided with tear-out portions each having an upstanding neck and an enlarged head comprising a plurality of interconnected plurality of pairs of transversely adjacent container carrying arms, means securing each carrying arm to an associated tear-out portion whereby an opening for supply to the tear-out portions through the securing means will remove the tear-out portions from the associated container ends, and said securing means being defined by channel means in each arm of a predetermined width substantially equal to the size of said necks.
 16. The carrier as defined in claim 15 wherein said carrying arms are hollow. 